Funding boost for local athletes

A number of local athletes have been selected to benefit from funding to enable them to keep on track with their chosen sports.

The latest round of grants will see 13 sporting competitors receive the award between January and March, 2022.

The dedicated grant supported by sportScotland to help sportspeople in Orkney with the costs of attending competitive and training opportunities received a £3k boost from Stagecoach.

The Athlete Travel Award Scheme is a partnership between sportScotland and participating local authorities - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils. It’s aimed at helping ‘elite pathway’ athletes – athletes with potential to reach elite levels of competition and performance - from the Highlands and Islands gain better access to competition and training opportunities without having to relocate from their communities.

The £3k boost from Stagecoach for Orkney’s scheme means support has been extended to even more local athletes.

Athletes who applied in the first round were eligible to apply in the second round too - however the maximum any individual will receive in total for 2021-22 is £1,500.

sportScotland has allocated each of the three local authorities £10k, with the Councils then required to top this up with £2k of their own funding plus the equivalent of £3k of management and administrative time.

The amounts received by successful applicants based on a number of criteria including their forecasted Competition and Training schedule, understanding of the Sports Performance Pathway and National Rankings. The application process also requires athletes to evidence how the grant will improve their performance, provide them access to quality training opportunities and improve their sports or club environment.

To find out more and download application forms, visit our Sports Development page or email Joanne Cairns.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Housing and Leisure Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “We are delighted at the commitment from Stagecoach, and all involved towards supporting Orkney athletes.”

Pictured are some of the Kirkwall-based athletes to benefit with Mark Malley from Stagecoach, left, Katell Roche, Team Leader Sport & Leisure, Ross Sinclair, Angus Robertson, George Ewing, Shannon Leslie and OIC Community Sports Officer, Joanne Cairns, right.

Also pictured are Stromness-based athletes with Mark Malley from Stagecoach, left, Fraser Burton, Max Linklater, Eve Wood, Daniel Kirkpartrick, Garry Burton, OIC Leisure and Culture Services Manager, and OIC Community Sports Officer, Joanne Cairns, right.

Missing from the pictures are: Finlay Scott, Kelly Skea, Rebecca Reid, Taylah Spence and Matthew Byers.